Monday - June 25, 2012 - A Sigh of Relief Today

In my last posting, I told you I had a chest x-ray and CT scan done as a routine event. The CT scan showed a very small spot on the top of my liver. Great...what now? It wasn't there before my surgery and after 6 months of chemo....how could this happen? Doc wanted me to get a PET Scan to take a more detailed look. Did that....yep, something's there, but the Doc still has nothing definitive and suggests I have the spot biopsied to know once and for all.

Friday, June 15 - Well, today I went in for the procedure...not too excited at all about someone sticking a needle into me to extract a piece of my liver. A liver I've had all my life...one that I have grown very attached to....all of it. I was not so sure I wanted to give up even a sliver of my liver (hmmm...that rhymes doesn't it?) Anyway, the day arrived and the radiologist comes in and says "Wow, it's pretty small...its on the top of your liver right by your diaphragm. I sure don't want to puncture your lung." Well, I have to say I was right there with him on that one!! So this was a CT guided biopsy, which means he would position the biopsy needle with the help of a CT scanner. After looking at my PET scan a bit more he decided, what the heck, let's go for it!! Not really, he didn't say that, he said he was confident he had enough room in there to be safe. It would have been scary if he DID say "what the heck, let's go for it!"

So we wheel into the exam room and slip into the CT scanner. The nurse asks how I'm doing. Great I say...she says "here's a little something to make it easier". Hmmm...I don't feel anything....she says "no? How about now? Is the ceiling crawling like an alligator?" I don't know if it looked like an alligator, but it sure was dancing around!!! Demorol, the magic potion. So I'm laying there, the Doc is doing something around my rib cage, I guess, then I feel him sort of push hard. Says "okay, let's take some pictures." He uses the CT scanner to 'guide' the placement of the biopsy needle. So he pokes it in, takes a picture, looks at the picture, comes out, adjusts the needle, takes another picture....you get the drift. He finally comes out and says, "okay let's biopsy this. Hold your breath...CLACK...he pulls a plastic-like trigger. Hold your breath....CLACK....one more....CLACK. Okay, relax. He comes back out, pokes again, then hard push. More pictures, more looks, then CLACK....CLACK. Okay, you did great. How do you feel? You're all done. Good job.

And that...is a biopsy. Not too bad...with my good friend Demorol. Back in recovery, the nurse shows me a little glass jar with five little 'threads'. The biopsied liver tissue. Now we wait for the pathologist to read the samples and report to Dr. Baltz.

Monday, June 25 - The longest week goes by...an even longer weekend...time to see Dr. Baltz. They call my name...I go back and they take my weight...no change, darn it! Baltz walks by, pats me on the shoulder and says "Hey, it was negative! Go into the office and let's talk." NEGATIVE. Not cancer! Halleluah! Just a fatty liver. Not the best news, but treatable and normal life ahead. So, there you have it. Another PET scan in 6 months! Looking forward to spending time with my grandchildren!!

Your life is never the same when you are faced with life altering health issues. I am just grateful for my family and friends. Its never too late to clean up your life and eat smart and live a few days longer. I'll blog again with any updates. Take care all.